S3 #48 - France Is Kaput - Europe May 1940

Allied Hidden Rules

• RAF advance deployment - all those squads using RAF a/c in France may deploy to Belgium at the start of Frame 1. The fields they deploy to cannot have any Belgian a/c based at them.
• French deployment - all French a/c must remain deployed in France.
• Belgian/Dutch deployment – a/c of Belgium and Holland must remained deployed at airfields in their home countries.
• Spitfire Deployment – in later frames Spitfires will become available but they must only operate from fields 2 and 99 in England and must not land in France.
• Strike forces - only AG-15 and 4th FG may use strike or bomber a/c, all other squads must conduct fighter operations.
• contested locations – if a battle is raging on the ground at a contested location and the entire field or tac area is in danger of falling that location will turn uncontrolled(white) and then back to a country colour once it is determined during the play who controls it. Strikes still may be conducted against uncontrolled fields.
• tac strikes – tac locations will require extensive bombing and buildings will not be as easy to destroy as before. Expect multiple sorties and accurate bomb hits to be necessary to damage these locations. The major buildings should be targeted first and will take the most damage.
• Targets - only airfields and those tac locations specified in the Frame orders may be attacked. No radar plinking other than those specified in the spec ops or at legitimate target locations.
• Belgian/Dutch steps – these a/c do not have to be used but their location close to the front ready for immediate operations make them valuable. German attacks on airfields will make losses to these a/c steps probable.
• D3A1 Fighters - the Fokker D.XXI/Gladiator/CR42(sub D3A1) are respectable fighters and those using it as such cannot carry bombs and must turn off their otto.
• D3A1 Bombers the Fokker C.X/Fairy Fox/LeO C.30(sub D3A1) must carry ord and can use otto.
• Allied AI forces - to represent the poor coordination, confusion and fruitless bravery using antiquated a/c several AI attacks will be conducted by non-RAF forces. The Frame CO will have little knowledge of such attacks other than some warning on country. Such AI attacks will be small, spread-out and usually doomed to failure.

Frame 1 - map

Points Scored = 6 for squad losses, 3 for missions, 2 for spec-ops missions = 11 Points

Situation Report - the Germans have launched a full-scale offensive across the Belgian and Dutch frontiers. Four major thrusts have been reported, German panzer columns have started rolling and heavy air attacks are needed to slow any breakthroughs. Expect to see heavy attacks on local airfields attempting to destroy as much of our air units on the ground as possible. The Low Countries are especially vulnerable to this being so close to the main German airfields. Expect to see heavy use of paratroops to capture important positions, Ju52s have been spotted forming up at many German airfields. Large numbers of stukas are in forward fields so expect to see heavy use of these terror weapons at low altitudes. Our AA defences are weak, scattered along the frontline, so do not expect them to offer much resistance other than warning. Our ground observation system is uncoordinated and only partially implemented so do not ever consider yourself clear especially if you are operating within 40-60 miles of the frontline.

• NW Advance(Xanten to Nijmegan) - damage the NW spawn of T49, look for truck convoys going from that spawn to T38. If T38 is in danger of being lost it will turn uncontrolled(white), it if falls it will turn gold and then you can hit it. Expect the Dutch to launch heavy attacks against this area with or without Allies support(AI flights). This is the least important advance threatening the Allies. 1 Point
• Central Advance(Aachen to Maastricht) - damage the W spawn of T51, look for truck convoys going from that spawn to Maastricht(E spawn of T42). Expect the Germans to go all out for a breakthrough, this is the most crucial advance and we expect paratroops to be deployed to help open up the front. 1 Point
• South Advance(Trier to Bastogne and Luxemburg) - damage the town of Trier(T50) and look for truck convoys going from T50 to T39 and the N spawn of T50 going to Bastogne(E spawn of T37). This is heavily forested area impassible to panzers so expect advances here to be slow so this advance as not as dangerous as that from Aachen. 1 Point

Air Suppression - expect to see the large fields at L53 and L54 packed with bombers and stukas. Damage to these would reduce the number of these important a/c. The three tac fields will be packed with 109s and 110s making them important targets but very dangerous to attack, due to our antiquated bombers and strike a/c this is not advised.

Fighter Battle - the Dutch have 2 steps of excellent Fokker G.I(110Cs) and the Belgians 1 step of Hurricanes. These should not be left exposed at forward airfields and can be a great spoiler to early attacks if some brave squads choose to fly them. The number of fighters available to both sides is approximately the same but the Allies have to beware of using them in penny packets and concentrate on the important areas trying to dispute air control over them. Expect to see multiple sorties from the enemy to hit the defending tac towns.

Strike Battle - the allies are outnumbered and have less worthy strike a/c so they must pick the important advances to hit and beware of pushing hopeless attacks into a well capped area. Expect the buildings to be difficult to destroy so concentrate on a few important buildings and get away. Listen for reports of truck convoys and try and hit those as this will disrupt the supply to the forward advance. Small units hitting at different times is the order of the day unless absolute air supremacy is established. The D3A1s are quite deadly low-level strike a/c and should not be overlooked. The TBD is a tank and the Do17 quite good at medium altitudes because of its low 6 defensive gun.

Special operations - only two of three may be conducted during the frame. Bridge and army HQ successful = 2 points

• Bridge Attack - at least 4 RAF Battles(TBD) must penetrate German air space and hit the important bridge north of Essen(C59). Take out as many spans as possible and return home.
• Army HQ - at least 2 French Potez(Do17) must locate and hit the C&C(radar) position at Aachen(T51) taking it down hurting the Panzer Army control of this dangerous central attack.
• Petrol Stockpile - at least 4 RAF Blenheims(B25C) must sneak into Germany and hit a large petrol dump located just south of the central region of Koln city(oil refinery). Damage as many petrol tanks as possible and return home.

Frame 2 - map

Points Scored = 6 for squad losses, 3 for missions, 2 for spec-ops missions = 11 Points

*Note - I overwrote Frame 2, anyone has a copy of the list for it please email it to me. yes I am an idiot

Frame 3 - map

Points Scored = 4 for squad losses, 3 for missions, 2 for spec-ops missions = 9 Points

Situation Report - Holland is about to fall, only their defences around Amsterdam still resist. German paratroops have captured the main bridges leading south to Antwerp and their forces have begun the encircling movement south. They must link up with the western advance through Schaffen(T42) to take the city. Liege is lost and German infantry continue to move slowly on Namur(T30) to the southwest. Namur must be held so our counterattacks in the south are not inturn encircled. Heavy air attacks hurt the enemy advance here slowing supplies and replacements to their tanks farther south. Substantial French armour forces have moved to stop both panzer spearheads at Dinant and Sedan. It is crucial that air cover is maintained and the French tanks protected from the ever present stuka attacks. This is our first attack of the war and it must be successful.

• NW Advance(Antwerp area) - Damage Schaffen(T42) and look for trucks advancing west, hit them hard. A northern force of enemy infantry is moving south onto Antwerp and must be attacked as well. 2 Points
• Central Advance(Liege to Namur) - hit the SW spawn of Liege(T43) and look for enemy infantry advancing toward Namur from there. Attack if possible. 1 Point
• South Advance(Bastogne to Sedan and Dinant) - damage Bastognes(T37) west spawn and hit the panzers advancing on Dinant(T31) and Sedan(T32). Of highest importance is protecting the French tanks from air attack and allowing them to stop the panzers cold.

Air Suppression - Expect L54 and L53 again to be full of enemy bombers and more fighters and stukas pushed forward to fields we have recently lost to enemy advances. Reports indicate that T34, T37, T42 and T43 are now in air operations for the Luftwaffe. T41, C29, T35, T36 are all contested and being fought over(white neutral). M24 is heavily damaged and closed for all air operations for the rest of the series.

Fighter Battle - the fighter battle just got better with reinforcements to both the French and RAF, expect to see more Hawks, Dewoitines and Spitfires. A strong fighter CAP has to be maintained over our French tanks in the south. Spitfires can only operate from L2 and L99 and must always replane there.

Strike Battle - the Battles and Blenheims did excellent multiple attacks in Frame 2. HQ expects more of the same but the defences will be stonger especially in the Dinant-Sedan area so strong fighter CAP and escort is necessary even if NOE approaches are used. Battles will have to take out the advancing German panzers and this will not be easy. They must be free to get the job done and any fighters intercepted before they can get low and attack the vulnerable strike a/c.

Special operations - only two of three may be conducted during the frame. 2 Missions conducted = 2 Points

• Bridge Attack - at least 4 RAF Battles(TBD) must hit the important bridge northeast of Hertogenbosch(T34). Take out as many spans as possible and return home.
• Bridge Attack - at least 4 French LeO 451(B25C) must hit the important bridge just NE of Liege(T43). German repair crews have put a temporary bridge across the spans taken down before. Take out as many spans as possible and return home.
• Army C&C - at least 4 RAF Battles(TBD) must hit the advance HQs(radars) of the attacking German Corps at T42 and T43. This should cause some delay and confusion to the enemy advance.

Frame 4 - map

Points Scored = 4 for squad losses, 4 for missions, 1 for spec-ops missions = 9 Points

Situation Report - Holland has surrendered and we expect the Belgians to soon follow. The BEF is conducting a fighting retreat westward and German panzers have broken through at Sedan and are now racing for the channel to separate our two armies. Stiff resistance and heavy air attacks in eastern Belgium have slowed their advances there but the one major breakthrough out of Sedan has caused havoc to our lines of communications and threatens the entire war. The advance panzer armies are exposed out west and should face heavy counterattacks from the north by the British and from the south by the French. But confusion reigns at HQ and coordination between all services is breaking down. Maximum effort must be conducted by the Allied air forces in supporting our armies retreat and the counterattacks along the exposed corridor the Germans have punched through our lines.

• North Advance(N of M15 area) - A British tank counterattack is being met by the 7th Panzer, this is the largest use of tanks by the BEF and we expect the enemy to use strong stuka support to take out the unstoppable Matildas before they can rout their follow-up supply columns and cut off their lead advance. The defending 7th Panzer must be hit hard by our strike a/c and the BEF must be covered from stuka attack. 1 Point
• NW Advance(S/SW of Bryas area) - strike at the two advance panzer thrusts coming up to the coast south and southwest of Bryas(S21). German tanks must be hit and we expect them to call up heavy AA to defend their advance to the coast. A ad hoc defense group has been formed around Bryas and is now moving south to engage the enemy. They are weak in tanks but brave and will need continuous air cap to protect them from the stuka hell. 3 Points
• SW Advance(Roye Amy to Beaumont-sur-oise) - recently captured Roye Amy(L18) is the scene of confused fighting and must be hit to slow the movement of supplies through the roads there. A french counterattack is forming just north of Beaumont-sur-oise(L17), support the heavy CharBs they are sending against the Germans with constant air cover, they must succeed in breaking through to Roye Amy. 0 Point

Air Suppression - Expect to see Sedan(T32) airfields and Tergnier(M15) deep in France full of enemy fighters and stukas supporting their drive to the coast. Tergnier airspace must be controlled by us to have any chance of protecting our counterattacks against the panzer breakthrough. Byas(S21) has been evacuated and cannot base any a/c, there are still RAF personal packing up so any a/c that do land there may replane there. Evere(M24) is still closed for operations do to heavy bombing damage.

Fighter Battle - German stukas caused significant damage to our ground forces and airfields last frame. Look for many heavy stuka attacks on our counterattacks, a rotating system of CAPs must be committed to the area if not for air superiority but to extract the most losses on these effective strike a/c whenever they show. Tergnier(M15) was rushed into operations by the Luftwaffe so they could get air cover in the area, the air space over this field must be ours. French Hawks took heavy losses but expect to see the Spitfires from England get into the battle now the enemy is closer to the coast.

Strike Battle - the battles and bombers did excellent multiple attacks once again. HQ expects more of the same but the distances will be closer and many of the targets will be on enemy ground positions. Strong fighter CAP and escort is necessary even if NOE approaches are used. Strike a/c will have to take out the many panzers now with heavy AA and this will not be easy. They must be free to get the job done and any fighters intercepted before they can get low and attack. German fighters will be easier to avoid so far into France but the battle is confusing and information of their location not easy to determine.

Special operations - only two of three may be conducted during the frame. 1 operation conducted = 1 point

• Airfield Attack - at least 4 RAF Battles(TBD) must hit the important airfield at Sedan(T32) and damage it as much as possible.
• Crossroads Attack - at least 4 French Potez(Do17) must the centre of the Sedan(T32) breakthrough. Damage as much of the buildings in the area destroying stockpiled supplies and units moving through this important crossroads area.
• Army C&C - at least 4 RAF Battles(TBD) must hit the 3 advance HQs(radars) of the attacking German Corps at M15. This should cause some delay and confusion to the enemy advance.

Frame 5 - map

Points Scored = 2 for squad losses, 5 for missions, 1 for spec-ops missions = 8 Points

Situation Report - The two main counterattacks by the British in the north and the French in the south were stopped with heavy losses but the defending forces suffered heavily as well from our bombers. The advancing panzers near Bryas(S21) were hit over and over again by constant air attacks and could not make much headway. It is imperative now that we continue to hit them hard making their spearheads pay for every mile they gain. The BEF are withdrawing their forces from Dunkirk and Berck-sur-Mer in an orderly fasion and we must give them as much time as possible to complete this evacuation. Air attacks on our shipping and these ports must be stopped and Churchill has authorized the use of Spitfires from the mainland.

• North Advance(Bryas to Mardyck area) - Bryas(S21) is uncontrolled by both sides and is being fought over as we speak. Protect our counterattack moving south from Mardyck(S20) and hit the Germans advancing out of Bryas hard. Damage the airfield at Bryas as well to put it out of use to the enemy. Expect our ships offshore Dunkirk to be the subject of air attacks. 2 Point
• NE Advance(Bryas to Wevelgem area) - protect our counterattack to Bryas(S21) from Wevelgem(L19) and hit the exploiting panzers moving on this important airfield from Bryas. 1 Point
• NW Advance(Bryas to Berck-sur-Mer) - Protect the French tanks heading to the Berck-sur-Merk(M12) area and stop the German advance forming east of this important port. Expect our ships offshore to be the subject of air attacks. 2 Points

Air Suppression - Expect to see the large fields at Tergnier(M15) and Roye Amy(L18) deep in France ready for air operations by the Luftwaffe. RAF bombers and battles may only operate from large fields in Belgium and England. Spitfires should be used to cap the crucial battle area only flying from England. Two steps of our fighters were destroyed on the ground by bombing of S20 and M12. Excess a/c can be moved to French or English airfields so this does not happen again

. Fighter Battle - A strong fighter CAP has to be maintained over our retreating forces so they can reach the coast and evacuate. A rotating system of CAPs must be committed to the area if not for air superiority but to extract the most losses on the effective stukas whenever they show. Spitfires will make an impression on the Luftwaffe this frame.

Strike Battle - the battles and bombers did excellent multiple attacks once again. Strong fighter CAP and escort is necessary even if NOE approaches are used. Strike a/c will have to take out the three major panzer thrusts and this will not be easy. They must be free to get the job done and any fighters intercepted before they can get low and attack these tough but slow a/c.

Special operations - only two of three may be conducted during the frame. 1 operation conducted = 1 point

• Airfield Attack - at least 4 French Potez(Do17) must hit the important airfield at Sedan(T32) and damage it as much as possible.
• Crossroads Attack - at least 4 French Potez(Do17) must the centre of the Sedan(T32) breakthrough. Damage as much of the buildings in the area destroying stockpiled supplies and units moving through this important crossroads area.
• Army C&C - at least 2 RAF Battles(TBD) must hit the advance HQ(radar) of the attacking German Corps at S21. This should cause some delay and confusion to the enemy advance.

S3 Clarifications - the S3 staff reserves the right to make a ruling on questions or game situations not answered completely or missed by the rules. For further clarification please post on the S3 forum or email Jabo.

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